On Ardengo Soffici’s Kobilek and on other war diaries and recollections of italian authors

Abstract

The article consists of two parts. The first deals with a literary written diary of the Italian writer and painter Ardengo Soffici (1879–1964) who took part as officer of the Italian army in the 11^th Soča/Isonzo battle and published his recollections in the book Kobilek (1918). Soffici is in his diary presented as an excellent literary writer; yet in his writing are no words about battling on soil where Italians do not live. The second part of the article describes the stand of Slovenes and Slovene ground in the voluminous creation (memoirs, diaries, and literary works) of other Italian authors, participants in battles on Slovene ground along the river Soča/Isonzo in World War I. Only a few writers know they are battling on ground where Slovenes live, but of primary importance is to them the Italian state interests connected with the war.